Many species of algae have been identified and used as a food and food additives. Algae are a very nutritious food source, which have a long list of health benefits. Species of algae such as Spirulina, Chlorella, Aphanizomenon and Scenedesmus are some of the species of microalgae that have very high nutritional and health benefits.
Spirulina are the most nutritious of all the other species of algae. They are also the most widely grown algae by food industries. Spirulina are blue green microalgae. They can grow in both fresh waters and salt waters. Spirulina contain as high as 70% of proteins, all the spectrum of the vitamin B complexes including vitamin B-12, vitamin A, and vitamin C, antioxidants such as phenolic acids, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. They also contain different mineral elements such as calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and potassium. Eating spirulina regularly has a lot of health benefits such as prevention and healing of protein malnutrition, healing and immunity from anemia, alleviation of indigestion, glaucoma, cataract and night blindness. They benefit the health by increasing blood hemoglobin, by controlling and prevention of diabetes, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, hepatitis and cancerous cells. Because of their richness in vitamin E, use of cosmetic products made from Spirulina, will improve skin health and appearance. It also heals wounds when applied on cuts. It increases lactation in nursing mothers. It reduces blood sugar and cholesterol levels too.
Chlorella are also microalgae. They are considered the second most nutritious species of algae. Chlorella are green algae, they are almost comparable in their nutritious content with Spirulina, but with slightly less protein content than Spirulina. Chlorella have very high nucleic acid and chlorophyll content. Nucleic acid will help to reduce aging, facilitates cell renewal and growth. Chlorophyll has health benefits by causing cell renewal and growth, wound healing, prevention of infections, removal of bad breath and body odor, anti-inflammation and increases the availability of vitamins A, E, and K. Chlorella are rich with antioxidants, which act as antiaging and wound healer. They are very effective to reduce cholesterol and body fat.
Aphanizomenon are also blue green microalgae like Spirulina, having both nutritional and health benefits. Even though Aphanizomenon are very nutritious and have a lot of health benefits they should be grown or cultured with upmost care by supplying all the optimal growth conditions such as light, water and mineral nutrients, because if they grew under stress conditions they can be extremely lethal poison.
Scenedesmus are green microalgae. They have up to 60% of protein content, more than that of soybeans. They also contain the whole set of vitamin B complex including vitamin B 12 and vitamin C, more than that of an egg. Due to their high nutritional content they are used to restore to health malnourished children. But daily intake of Scenedesmus should be below 20 to 35 g of dry weight since they have the ability to raise uric acid level enormously.
